Burn Injury Attorneys in Blue Springs, MO
Tough representation for thermal, electrical, chemical, and radiation burn victims in Missouri
Burn injuries are incredibly painful. They usually leave scars. Many burns can be permanently disfiguring even with plastic surgery. Many victims require surgeries and physical therapy. Most victims also require psychological therapy especially if the burns are visible.
At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we understand the unique challenges involved in representing burn injury clients. We are skilled at working with fire professionals, chemical experts, and other professionals to help show who is responsible for the accident that caused the burns, and why the accident should not have happened. We work with your doctors to fully understand your physical pain, emotional suffering, and all the ways your burn injuries are making your life difficult. Call now to speak to our experienced Blue Springs burn injury lawyers.
Do I have a case?
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What are the different causes of burn injuries in Blue Springs?
The sources of burn injuries aren’t just fires. There are many other types of burns that can be just as devastating. The main types of burns someone in Blue Springs can suffer include:
- Thermal burns. In addition to being burned by a fire, thermal burns also include your skin coming into contact with anything that is extremely hot – such as oven racks, stovetops, boiling water, scalding coffee, or steam. When fires occur, the smoke inhalation can cause severe respiratory problems.
- Electrical burns. Exposure to direct currents can be deadly. Survivors will likely suffer severe electrical burns. Common sources of electrical burns include power lines, underground wires, stun guns, and lightning.
- Chemical burns. Construction workers, anyone who works with home or business cleaning agents, and people who work with hazardous materials may suffer chemical burns.
- Radiation burns. Exposure to the sun, radiation therapy, X-ray exposure, and other events can cause severe radiation burns.
Another common type of burn is a friction burn. A common example is a motorcycle or bicycle rider who suffers road rash if he/she is in an accident. Residents and workers in Blue Springs may also suffer cold burns if they are exposed to freezing temperatures. A common example of a cold burn is frostbite.
How are burns classified?
Burns are classified by their depth, appearance, pain level, and sensations. The thickness of a burn is also a classification factor. Some burns worsen over a period of days. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies burns as follows:
- First-degree burns. These are “superficial” burns that involve the epidermis – the outer skin layer. The skin appears red, without blisters, and is dry. First-degree burns, with proper treatment, should heal without scarring in 5-10 days.
- Second-degree burns. These burns affect the epidermis and the dermis. Superficial second-degree burns have severe pain. They should heal within 3 weeks with light scarring. Deep second-degree burns look yellow or white, are dry, and don’t blanch with pressure. The pain is usually less severe because of a decreased sensation. Healing takes 3-8 weeks with scarring present.
- Third-degree burns. These full-thickness burns affect the skin and subcutaneous structures. They look white or blackish/brown. The burn site is dry and leathery. The lack of sensation should mean less pain. “Full-thickness burns heal by contracture and take greater than 8 weeks. Full-thickness burns require skin grafting.”
“Fourth-degree [burns] show charred skin with possible exposed bone. Fifth-degree has charred, white skin, and exposed bone. Sixth-degree has loss of skin with exposed bone.” Generally, fourth, fifth, and sixth-degree burns are fatal.
How common are burn injuries?
The U.S. Fire Administration reported that in 2020, there were more than 1.38 million fires in America causing 15,200 injuries and 3,500 deaths. Residential fires accounted for 372,000 fires, 2,615 deaths, and 11,825 injuries.
Some of the professions that are most at risk for burn injuries include firefighters, electricians, construction workers, mechanics, and restaurant workers.
Who is responsible for my burn injuries?
Our Blue Springs personal injury attorneys fight to hold all responsible parties accountable. We often work with local fire professionals, investigators, and use the discovery process to determine the cause of the fire or other burn accident, and why the defendants should be held responsible. The defendants, depending on how the fire happened, may include:
- Manufacturers of defective products
- Construction companies
- Drivers and vehicle owners
- Nursing homes
- Property owners
Your employer may also be responsible for your burn injuries.
At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we file personal injury claims, workers’ compensation claims, product liability claims, medical malpractice claims, and wrongful death claims – depending on the cause of the fire, the relationship of the defendant to the victim, whether the victim survives, and other factors.
We’ll decide which type of claim should be filed. Our lawyers are respected across Missouri for our record of strong settlements and verdicts in the different types of injury claims.
What are the common treatments for burn injuries in Blue Springs?
According to HCA Midwest Health‘s Grossman Burn Center the treatments for burn injuries vary from patient to patient. They list the following common treatments:
- Biological skin substitutes (bioengineered skin and collagen products)
- Biopsies (removal of cells or tissues)
- Compression therapy and wraps (increasing blood flow by strengthening vein support)
- Debridement (removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue) under anesthesia
- Homograft skin grafting (taking tissue from a donor) and autograft skin grafting (taking tissue from the patient)
- Hydrotherapy (use of water to relieve pain and treat burns and wounds)
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (breathing almost pure oxygen to encourage the healing of serious wounds)
- Negative pressure wound therapy (drawing out fluid and infection from a wound)
- Plastic surgery
- Transcutaneous oxygen monitoring (determining the amount of healing oxygen reaching the skin)
- Topical dressings revascularization (restoring the passage of fluid through the circulatory system or lymphatic system)
Treatments also include burn victim support groups, Helipads for rapid transport, dedicated burn surgical suites, outpatient programs, telemedicine, and community education programs.
Your burn healthcare team will normally include surgeons, specialty surgeons, physicians, nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pediatric critical care doctors for children, psychologists, social workers, and chaplains.
Do you have a burn injury lawyer near me?
Our Blue Springs office is located at 705 SW 10th St, Suite 107. We do meet clients at their homes and healthcare facilities when necessary. We also have other offices throughout Missouri and Kansas.
We understand how traumatic burn injuries are. We’re skilled at working with Blue Springs residents and workers who have many different types of catastrophic injuries. We’ll help you fight for the compensation you deserve so you can get your life back on track.
Get help from our Blue Springs burn injury lawyers now
Burn injuries are catastrophic injuries. They can often be life-threatening. Victims live with a lot of physical and emotional pain. Most burn accidents are preventable. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we’ll work to build as strong a case as possible. We demand compensation for all your medical expenses, your financial losses including an inability to work, your scarring and disfigurement, and other damages. We also file wrongful death claims if a loved one died due to burn injuries.
Call our Blue Springs burn injury attorneys or use our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.
